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Hero in the Shadows (死なないで父さん！！ これが悟飯の底力, Shinanai de To-san!! Kore ga Gohan no Sokojikara) is the thirty-third episode of the Vegeta Saga in the uncut Dragon Ball Z series. The episode first aired on January 24, 1990.

Summary

Krillin's Destructo Disc cuts the rock Gohan is on

Yajirobe watches as Vegeta slowly crushesGoku in his hands. He is convinced that not helping Goku is the right thing to do, as there is little he can do. Gohan and Krillin arrive at the scene. Krillin recognizes Vegeta's Great Ape form, and rushes to the ground with Gohan. There, they stumble upon Yajirobe's hiding spot.

Yajirobe runs away after he cuts Vegeta's tail

After Yajirobe fills them in, Krillin puts together a plan to cut off Vegeta's tail, returning him to normal. As Yajirobe flees the scene, Gohan gets Vegeta's attention long enough for Krillin to form a Destructo Disc and launch it from behind. Vegeta is expecting this attack, however, and manages to avoid it.

Gohan confronts Vegeta

All seems lost until Yajirobe catches Vegeta off guard and slices his tail off with his sword, which returns him to his original form. After reverting, an angry Vegeta starts to attack Gohan as Yajirobe once again goes into hiding. Krillin leaps to assist Gohan, but one swift kick from Vegeta takes him out of the fight. Vegeta then headbutts Gohan, drawing blood.

At Kame House, everyone is losing hope. Chi-Chi seems to have lost her senses, when all of a sudden, she encourages Gohan to fight. She leaps onto her feet and cheers on Gohan to beat Vegeta, roughing up Oolong a bit in the process.

Krillin wields the Spirit Bomb given to him by Goku

Vegeta tosses Gohan like a rag doll next to his defeated father. Wounded and frightened of Vegeta, Gohan is about to give up, until he receives an encouraging lecture from Goku about how Piccolo believed in him and ultimately laid down his life for him. Vegeta mercilessly attacks Goku again, and it is more than Gohan can take. Gohan gathers his energy and continues his battle with Vegeta. They fight one on one, and this time Gohan is able to hold his own. As Gohan and Vegeta fight, Goku calls Krillin, who limps over to him. Goku passes on the energy remaining from the Spirit Bomb to Krillin, who manages to form it into a ball. Goku warns him that he must hit Vegeta at all costs as it is his last bit of energy, thereby making the Spirit Bomb their last hope of defeating Vegeta once and for all.